Many people remember reading the nursery rhyme "Old Mother Hubbard" in which the title character "went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone." As the rest of the story goes, there was nothing in the cupboard, "so the poor dog had none."

That is how first-year Hector football coach Greg Coffman feels the same way. After the Wildcats finished the 2006 campaign with a 9-3 record and a second-round trip in the Class AAA playoffs before falling to Harding Academy in double overtime, only one starter returns in 2007.

"We lost 11 seniors. We're returning one guy on each side of the ball," Coffman said. "Everybody has had to learn new things even me. We concentrated on the basics during the spring while we put in a new offense."

While former Wildcat head coach Bryan Rust ran the option out of the Dead T formation, Coffman said the offense has changed to an option wing style, but the defense will stay the same.

"Our basic philosophy is going to stay the same. We will look to run first and establish the ground game," Coffman said. "We feel our new offense allows us to put in a few more quirks into our play book. As for the defense, it will stay the same."

Among those gone from last season's team is signal caller Ryan White. Coffman said it would be hard to replace White, but believes Colton Barton will do a good job at quarterback.

"Colton didn't see a lot of action last season. He got some snaps against Charleston when Ryan hurt his ankle," Coffman said. "He has matured a lot in off season. It will be hard to replace Ryan, but we'll be all right."

Another addition to Hector's offense is tailback Tyler Robertson. Coffman said Robertson had a good spring and picked up the new offense quickly.

"I was pleased with the way Tyler worked in the spring," Coffman said. "He will do a good job at tailback. He played last year as a freshman and backed up Lucas Watson."

While the skill positions are important in an option offense, maybe the most important position is those who don't get their names in the paper - the offensive linemen.

Coffman said the Wildcats would have some size up front when two-a-days opened in August.

"We have some big, physical guys up front, and that is important for our offense," Coffman said. "Patric Jack will start at right guard. He is pretty physical and our only returning full-time starter from last season on offense. We are looking for him to take hold of that right guard position. Dusty Storm is a big kid at 6-5, 240 pounds. He will be one of our tackles along with Chris Blandon.

"Sophomores Nathan Pruitt and Lance Reilly battled all spring at the center position. We are looking for one of them to step up this summer. Blake Owens will be our other guard."

Coffman said twins Adam and Alex Clancy worked all spring at both the tight end and split end positions and expected both to play in the fall.

"We looked at both of them throughout the spring," Coffman said. "Both did a great job at both positions. We will probably have one at tight end and the other will be at split end."

Coffman said Scott Mahan would enter August at dive back, and A.J. Talkington would be the wing back.

"Scott will be our dive back in the fall. He is quick and quick hitting. He is not afraid of contact," Coffman said. "A.J. is a small, speedy guy who can get out on the edge and be a pitch man. He is not afraid of contact either."

Coffman said the Wildcats 5-2 defense still had some question marks going into the summer, but felt confident someone would emerge along the front.

"We are looking at four guys at our nose guard position. Chris Bland, Jack, Reilly and Storm all got some work there in the spring," Coffman said. "Jack will more than likely be one of our defensive ends along with Adam Clancy. The other three will battle Logan White for the three spots in the middle of our line."

Coffman said Robertson and Mahan would see action at the linebacker positions.

"Tyler is our only returning starter on defense," Coffman said. "He will be joined by Mahan in our linebacking corp."

Coffman said Barton and Chris Cowell, a new arrival to the district, would be the safeties in the Wildcats secondary. Talkington and Alex Clancy would be the corners.

"Colton will be our free safety. He is a kid that likes contact and has a good nose for the football. Chris moved into the district around Christmas from Johnson County Westside," Coffman said. "Talkington and Alex will be our corners. They have the speed we need to not get burnt deep. We feel good about our secondary."

Coffman said he and his staff didn't have the opportunity to look at special teams during the spring but believed Robertson would handle the punting duties and would team up with Cowell for kickoff, field goal and extra point attempts.

Coffman said the attitude was good during spring practice. The cold days of staying inside and lifting weights had passed, and it was an opportunity to see if all the hard work had paid off.

"First day of practice, everybody was excited to get the pads on and hit somebody," Coffman said. "It was a chance to see how the work in the weight room had benefited each kid. It was also a chance for the coaching staff to see how the ninth-graders would respond to getting hit."

Coffman said despite low numbers, the team was eager to work on the new offense.

"Everyone was excited about the new offense and the new plays," Coffman said. "We had about 17 or 18 out, and that makes it hard to practice like that, but they did a real good job. I was pleased."